The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-07-23
sam Houston's Duel.


In 1926, six miles south of Franklin,
Kentucky on the farm of II. J. Duncan,
two hundred yards from the Tennessee line,
was fought duel which created widespread
excitement throughout the Union, owing to
the reputation of the principals. In 1876,
Gen. Sam Houston was a member of con-
gress from the Nashville district in Tenn
essee, and sending home for distribution a
number of public documents, he claimed
that Curry, the postmaster at Nashville,
suppressed and failed to deliver them and,
denounced him, a scoundrel. For this
Curry sent him challenge by Gen. White.
Houston refused to receive the message, as
he stated, "from such contemplate source"
throwing it on the ground and stamping
on it. Gen. White said he was surprised,
as no one expected Houston to fight. To
this Houston retorted, ''Do you try me"
OF course challenge followed from White
which Houston promptly accepted. The
terms and conditions were, "ffteen feet
distance; holster pistols; time, sunrise"
The place chosen as stated, was in Simpson
county On the 23d day Of September,
1926, the parties met at the designated
point with their seconds. The fact that a
duel was to be fought had gone abroad,
and number of persons had secreted them
selves near the field to witness the affair, a
fact unknown to either principals or sec
onds. After the first shots had been ex-
changed and White had fallen to the ground
the people rushed to the spot. Houston
seeing them, and fearing an arrest, started
toward the state line with view of escap-
ing. Gen. White called to him, "General,
YOU have killed me-" Houston then faced
the crowd with pistol still in hand, and in
quired if their were any officers Of the law
among them, and being answered in the
negative he advanced to the side of his late
antagonist and kneeling by HIM took his
hand saying: II am very sorry for you
but YOU know that it was forced upon me.
Gen. White replied, II know it and forgive
you." White had been shot through just
above the hips, and to cleanse the wound
of blood the surgeons run one OF their old
fashioned silk neckerchiefs through the
wound. Gen. White recovered from his
fearful wound as much to the joy of Hous-
ton as to himself. During the week preced-
ing the duel Gen. Houston remained at the
home of Sanford Duncan, near the field,
practicing meanwhile with pistols. At his
temporary home were two belligerent young
dogs, named for their pugnacious disposition
Andrew jackson and Thomas II. Benton.
These were continually fighting, Houston's
political sentiments leading him to espouse
the cause OF the Jackson pup, who, very
much to his delight, was constant winner
in the trays. The hour of arising and pre-
pairing for the duel on the arrival OF the
day was 3:40 a. m. Just before that hour
"Gen. jackson" barked beneath the window
of his admirers room, awakening him.
Houston arose without disturbing his at
tending friends, and began the task of
molding bullets with which to fight Gener-
al White. As the first bullet fell from the
mold a game cock, which he had admired
scarcely less than he did the dog, crowed
loud. clear note. Houston, with that ell
ement of superstition which finds place
in nearly every mind, accepted the early
greetings Of his friends as happy omen,
and marking the bullet one side Tor the
dog and the other for the chicken, made up
his mind that his pistol should be loaded
with it, and that he would first fire that
particular ball at General White. He al
terward said that che was not superstitious,
but these two circumstances made him feel
assured of success" thus disproving his
own words. The bullet was used and
White fell at the first fire, as stated. At
ter the duel Houston selected as a coat-of-
arms "a chicken cock and dog" and many
we're the comments made by those unfamil-
lar with the facts in after years, when as
president Of Texas and senator in congress,
he sported so strange crest. These facts
are authentic, having been related by Gen.
Houston to Sanford Duncan, jr., late OF
Louisville, while the two were en- route to
Washington city during HOuston's term as
senator.